The Harry R. Nemer Service Award Dinner will honor Charlotte Tevet for her many years of volunteer service to our congregation and Kara Orvieto with the new Livnot Kehillah Builder Award (description below). The dinner and awards ceremony will take place on July 21, 5 pm. If you are interested in showing your support for Charlotte and Kara by becoming a sponsor of the dinner contact the synagogue office and we will reach out to you. The funds we raise from this event benefit both social and religious programs at Shaarie Torah. The Livnot Kehillah Builder Award was established to recognize newer members who have made a significant impact on the congregation’s strength and vitality through energized leadership and visioning. We are pleased to announce that Kara Orvieto has been selected as the first recipient of this award. She will be presented with the honor during the annual Harry R. Nemer Service Award dinner.

Charlotte grew up at Shaarie Torah and attended Shaarie Torah Religious School from the second grade through her sophomore year in high school. In 1971, the then Charlotte Burda married Isaac Tevet at Shaarie Torah, and the wedding was officiated by Rabbi Geller.

Since becoming an official member of Shaarie Torah in 1982, Charlotte and Isaac have been dedicated volunteers. Since 1982, Charlotte served as Sisterhood financial secretary, 13 years as Sisterhood treasurer, 2 years as Sisterhood president, 6 years as a board member of Shaarie Torah and 30 years involvement in all aspects of the Hamantashen bake sale. In addition, she was one of the recipients of the prestigious Song of Miriam Award.

Kara Orvieto grew up in the modern-day shtetel of suburban Miami Beach, and found it a bit of a culture shock to have to actively seek out the Jewish community in Portland. But after a decade of drop-in High Holiday services and friend-of-friend seders, Kara longed for a return to a Synagogue community for herself and her young daughter, Emelia. After checking out the major synagogues in town over the course of a year, it was after a raucous Purim Party at Shaarie Torah that Kara told her daughter, “We have found our people!”

Since officially joining Congregation Shaarie Torah in 2015, Kara has been an active volunteer on various committees (Youth Education, Sulam for Lifelong Learners, Michael Allen Harrison gala concert), served as the Shul’s representative on the PJ Library events committee helping to create 4 major events per year over 3 years, handmade decorations for Mother’s Day Shabbat and Chanukah parties, and helped create the High Holiday children’s picture book. Kara currently serves on Shaarie Torah’s Board of Directors and is the Vice President of the Sisterhood. Kara estimates that she has punched the dough for approximately 750 hamantaschen and fried at least 500 latkes over the years. You will rarely ever see her without Emelia by her side.

Tickets for the dinner are $54.00 per person. Sponsorship levels are available for the event. On behalf of the Men’s Club, I encourage you to mark your calendars and plan to attend this yearly event supporting outstanding volunteers.